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Banteay Meanchey Destination Guide

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Banteay Meanchey

Banteay Meanchey is a Cambodian province in the northwest of the country, and its capital is named Sisophon. The town of Sisophorn is today a charming, quiet place that only gives hints to its turbulent past upon closer examination. Like Siem Reap and Battambang Provinces, control of the province has changed hands many times between the Thais and the Khmers in the more distant past, and the Khmer Rouge and central Phnom Penh government in recent decades.

With the final demise of the Khmer Rouge (locals, however, firmly believe the Present national reconciliation only the Khmer Rouge trick), the province and towns are striving to rebuild their culture and economy.

It's very friendly place with the locals genuinely happy to see foreign faces and the stability that it implies. Normally just a passing-through spot on the way to the border, or between Battambang and Siem Reap, the area has a few sights that warrant a visit, such the Banteay Chhmar temple ruins, the only other Khmer temple ruins besides the Bayon (Angkor) and Preah Khan ( Preah Vihear Province ) that features the famous four-faced monuments. This area was part of the extensive Khmer empire, with its most notable remains the Banteay Chhmar temple (built in 12th and 13th century) in the north of the province. In the 17th century the Siam took control over Cambodia, and made the area of the modern province part of Sisophon Province. In the year 1907 the Siam had to cede control to the French, and the area was then included into Battambang Province. In 1988 the province Banteay Meanchey was split off from Battambang.

Where To Stay
Dining Out
Attractions
Shopping

Rong Roeung Hotel
Fan rooms 200 baht (US$7), a/c rooms 300 baht (US$10). Western bath, sat. (Satellite) TV, clean; and the owner speaks English.

Sourkear Hotel

Fan US$ 5, a/c US$ 10. The rooms are very clean and have large and small beds as an additional Western bath.

No Name Hotel

The name was being changed when we stayed there-to what, they did not know. It’s a nice place. The manager speaks English and the staff is very friendly. Western bath, sat. TV, wrap-around terrace overlooking a small park. Fan room 200 baht (US$7), a/c room 250 baht (US$8,5).

Santapheap Hotel

The name means peaceful and that’s it. Located on the outskirts of town towards Battambang, the hotel is very clean with Western bath, single bed fan rooms for US $ 5, two beds for US $ 7 and a room with a/c and sat. TV goes for US$ 10.The owner speaks English.

Phnom Svay Hotel (and restaurant)

Nicely furnished clean rooms with a large bed, sat. TV and Western bath. Fan rooms are 200 baht (US$7), a/c rooms 300 baht (US$10). The restaurant is the place for Western food in Sisophan.

Mondial Restaurant This is the swank joint in town with good food and service. Friendly staff and live Khmer music while you have your dinner (this is thankfully one place that keeps the volume down a bit). The staff is fair in their English. Penh Chet Restaurant A step down but it’s a clean, basic place with good food and the usual friendly beer girls. There is also live music here in the evening. There isn’t an English menu, but the beer girls will have a lot of fun trying to help you ordering. The restaurant next to the Phnom Svay Hotel serves up the best food in Sisophan. It’s a very simple place but the menu is varied and features many Western faves. Decent hamburgers, French fries, ice cream, among others are sure to satisfy your Cambodian road – weary appetite. The place draws a good crowd of foreign workers and locals alike. There are restaurant stalls by the shared taxi stand, along with loads of evening desert and fruit shake/drink stands all over town. Sisophan has a rather rowdy (and seedy) brothel area built almost on the RR tracks near the train station. With the train tooting it’s whistle and vibrating the shacks as it crawls by, it’s surely Sisophan’s version of the popular book, Off the Rails in Phnom Penh. The ladies are out in full force in the late afternoon, beckoning you over, laughing and seemingly enjoying the festiveness of the area that time of the day. Drink and food stands dot the area, and with all the local males milling about it almost does seem like a carnival.

Banteay Chhmar Temple in Banteay

Meanchey Banteay Chhmar Temple in Banteay Meanchey is the historical site which was built between 12th and 13th centuries during the reign of King, Jar Varman VII. The temple is located at Thmar Puok District, along the National Road No 59ª. Nowadays, the temple is damaged because of war and gangs of offendees who have stolen statues and the temple stone for selling them to Thailand. In addition, there are some other temples in Ban Teay Mean Chey province such as Pra Sat Preah Chhor and Pra Sat Pram as well that have mostly been abandoned and not arranged. At Present, Ban Teay Chhmar temple is the main tourist attractive site of the province in Luring foreign tourists to visit.

Ang Teuk Kanh Va

Ang Teuk Kanh Va is the natural resort locating at Se Rey Sa Phoan District, along the National Road No 69A in four-kilometer distance from the provincial town or 364 kilometer distance from Phnom Penh. Visitors who visit the resort are usually interested in: Abundance of fresh air. Beautiful scenary with blowing winds of Ang Teuk Kang Va. Leisure activities such as swimming, fishing and boating.

Banteay Neang

Banteay Neang is about 11 km From Provincial Town. It take 20mns by car to reach there. There are several historical sites and colonial buildings. It is located in Road No. 69A of Banteay Chhmar Village, Banteay Chhmar Commune, Tmar Puok District.

Banteay Torp

It is called in Khmer Banteay Torp, it means the army base. it is about 55 km from the provincial town. It was the bigest army base during the civil war since 1970.

It is located in Road No. 69A of Banteay Chhmar Village, Banteay Chhmar Commune, Tmar Puok District.Today, it become a historical war places to the tourist to visit.

Cheung Krouh

Cheung Krouh is about 63 km from the provincial town. It take about 2 hours to reach there. There are many natural wildlife are preserved by the WWF organization.

It is located in road 69A of Banteay Chhmar Village, Banteay Chhmar Commune, Tmar Puok District.

La Ang Phnom Touch

La Ang Phnom Touch is the natural and cultural resort locating at Se Rey Sa Phoan District, along the National Road No 5 in 65-kilometer distance from Phnom Penh or five-kilometer distance from the provincial town, then turning right more 500 Meters.

The resort consists of two mountains closed to each other and big-stand rocks which look like wall. On the top of the mountains, there are new buildings constructed in ancient style for local tourists who spend their visit and leisure there during the festival days.

Phnom Bak and Phnom Chen Chung

Phnom Bak and Phnom Chen Chung are the natural and cultural resort locating at Se Rey Sa Phoan District, along the National Road No 5 in 65-kilometer distance from Phnom Penh or five-kilometer distance from the provincial town, then turning right more 500 Meters.

Phnom Chuncheang

3 km (6mn) From Provincial Town. Nature Wildlife Preserves, Location: Road No. 5, Toek Tla Village, Toek Tla Commune, Serey Sophorn District.

Phnom Svay in Banteay Meanchey

1 km (2mn) From Provincial Town. Location: Nature Wildlife Preserves, Road No. 5, Kortan Village, O' Ormpel Commune, Serey Sophorn District.

Sculpture Handicraft in Banteay Meanchey

24 km (48mn) From Provincial Town. Location: Road No.6, Chungcheang Village, Phnom Chungcheang Commune, Preahnet Preah District.

Tra Peang Thmar in Banteay Meanchey

Tra Peang Thmar in Banteay Meanchey is the natural resort, similar to Ang Teuk Kang Va, but bigger. It has less tourist activity than Kang Va because it locates far from the provinial town. The resort locates at Phnom Srok District in 56-kilometer distance from the provincial town or 416-kilometer distance from Phnom Penh.

The markets are very busy areas with local shops dealing the local daily comsumer products, like fruits, vegetables, meats and other packed products from Thailand. All food and drink shops are surrounding the market.